Diab to Al-Siyasa: Monthly gains for the 'First' and 'General' indices
The Kuwait Stock Exchange showed resilience, supported by buying activity in leading stocks, particularly in the banking sector, after seven banks reported strong results.
Al-Awwal recovered its losses, closing up 1.5% on a monthly basis.
The market capitalization reached 52.42 billion dinars, a 0.49% increase from the end of June.
With the conclusion of trading for July and yesterday’s Thursday closures, the main indices of the Kuwait Stock Exchange exhibited mixed performance throughout July 2026, particularly in the final weeks of the month. This occurred amid geopolitical uncertainty, as military operations escalated in the region and hopes for an American-Iranian agreement regarding the ongoing conflict faded.
Raed Diab, First Deputy Head of the Investment Research and Strategies Department at KAMCO Invest, told "Al-Siyasa" that both the First Market and General Market indices managed to record monthly and weekly gains, reflecting market stability supported by buying activity in leading stocks, especially in the banking sector. Seven of its banks posted strong financial results in the first half of the year, signaling the sector’s robustness, its ability to overcome crises, and its risk management efficiency, thanks to its financial solvency and high flexibility.
Diab added that banking sector profits have grown by approximately 23% during the second quarter of this year, reaching 488.9 million dinars, compared to 398 million dinars in the first quarter. This also represents an 8.3% increase compared to 451.6 million dinars in the second quarter of last year.
He noted that both the First Market and General Market indices rose during the current month after two consecutive months of decline, while the Main 50 Index climbed for the fourth consecutive month. Conversely, the Main Index fell after three months of gains. He explained that the month began with divergent performance, followed by relative weakness.
Diab continued, “However, with the cessation of American strikes and attacks on the region, alongside better-than-expected bank profits, a decline in leading stock prices, continued government support, and commitment to capital expenditure, as well as increased interest from foreign institutional investors in the Kuwaiti market, we witnessed notable buying activity over four consecutive trading sessions. This enabled the First Market Index to recover its losses and close up 1.5% on a monthly basis, surpassing pre-crisis levels.”
He mentioned that with increasing disclosures, especially if they exceed expectations, the market is likely to be supported in the coming period. However, this remains contingent on calm geopolitical conditions in the region, the return of stability, the end of uncertainty, and the resumption of understandings that restore economic activity and guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
This rise coincides with the Kuwaiti government’s continued signing of major project contracts during the current month. The government signed a contract for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the North Kabd Desalination Plant and its complementary works. This marks the second cooperation agreement signed between the State of Kuwait and the People’s Republic of China. Additionally, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) signed a lease and sublease agreement for a pipeline network with a foreign consortium valued at 16 billion US dollars.
Monthly Performance
According to "Mubasher Info" statistics, Kuwaiti indices varied during July 2026 trading sessions. The First Market Index rose by 1.46% to reach 9,215.48 points, gaining 132.8 points from its level at the end of the previous month. The General Market Index also rose by approximately 0.58%, or 50.38 points, closing trading at 8,756.68 points. Meanwhile, the Main 50 Index climbed by 2.43% to 10,059.39 points, an increase of 239.02 points during the current month.
On the other hand, the main market index posted a negative monthly performance, declining by 3.58%, equivalent to 324.84 points, closing the current month’s trading at 8,736.56 points.
The market capitalization of shares reached 52.42 billion dinars by the end of today’s trading, up 0.49% from its level at the close of June 2026, which stood at 52.16 billion dinars.
Regarding trading activity, volumes decreased by 24.97% to 6.28 billion shares, while liquidity fell by 24.88% to 1.60 billion dinars. The number of executed trades also declined by 20.22% to 422,360 trades.
